Oldest Song looked at his younger brother and sister-in-law who had suddenly shown up at his door, feeling a sense of unease rise within him.
Second Song knelt abruptly before Old Man Song, wailing, "Father, I want to send Yaozu to the private school, but our family doesn't have enough money. Could you help us out a little?"
Old Man Song and Old Lady Song sat rigidly on the kang, their blood pressure rising from their chests up.
Elder Aunt Song, afraid that the half of the tuition fees she was about to secure might slip away, spoke up, "Yaozu is only eight. If the money isn't enough, he can wait a couple more years to start school."
Second Aunt Song frowned, unwilling to agree. "Eight is too late to start school. Dazhuang's Wife says children should enter the schoolhouse by six."
Elder Aunt Song's pupils constricted. Had she been eavesdropping, or did she go ask herself?
Second Song firmly grasped Old Man Song's knees. "Father, Mother, you can't show favoritism. Whatever Yongnian gets, Yaozu must have too."
A thunderous realization struck overhead.
How could the four people present not guess? The things they had just said must have been overheard by the second branch of the family; otherwise, Second Song wouldn't speak like this.
Elder Aunt Song composed herself and began to rebuke the second branch couple. "When the family divided, everything was split clearly. It's been so many years now. How can you have the nerve to ask Father and Mother to pay for Yaozu's schooling again?"
Second Aunt Song immediately started to argue back. "If Sister-in-law puts it that way, then let Father and Mother come live with our branch. That way, you won't take all the advantages and then turn around and call us unfilial."
When the family divided, Old Man Song and Old Lady Song had kept a separate portion of silver and land for themselves, which had displeased Second Aunt Song back then.
It was only natural for the eldest branch to care for the elders, but this arrangement made it seem like the two old folks were subsidizing the eldest branch.
Their own family hadn't gained any advantage and had borne all the losses.
Oldest Song fixed his eyes on his brother and spoke sternly, "It's the ancestors' rule that parents live with the eldest son. You want Father and Mother to move? Do you want the villagers to point at my nose and call me unfilial?"
Second Song stood up to confront him. "If Elder Brother were truly filial, when the family divided, the property should have been split three ways. That would be called caring for and supporting Father and Mother. Now they have their own share, and it all ends up subsidizing you."
Old Man Song sat on the kang without a word. Back then, he had insisted on dividing it four ways, thinking he wouldn't have to ask his eldest son for everything and suffer the hardship of living under someone else's roof.
Now, giving silver only for Yongnian's schooling was indeed unfair.
Seeing the two branches argue louder and louder, on the verge of a fight, Old Man Song shouted to stop them, "Enough arguing!"
The four fell silent and looked at the two elders.
Old Man Song looked wearily at his two sons. "Three taels of silver for tuition per family, that's nine taels a year for two children. Your mother and I don't have that much money."
Elder Aunt Song and Second Aunt Song were stunned. "Song Jinzhao can afford Qiming's schooling. Their branch doesn't need money."
Old Man Song's whitish eyes held grit, traces of age left by the years.
He stared blankly at his two sons, seeing their silence clearly indicated they thought the same.
Recalling how, right after their third son died, they had insisted on giving Anhao away for adoption and making Shixue a child bride for someone else to bring luck, Old Man Song's heart grew even colder.
"Old woman, go call Song Jinzhao here."
Old Lady Song silently got off the kang and went to the third branch's quarters to fetch her.
The four people inside the room exchanged glances, feeling anxious.
If a portion is given to the third branch, what comes into their hands will surely shrink.
If they don't give, what if Song Jinzhao becomes unhappy and stops taking them up the mountain to gather mushrooms in the future?
If they go themselves, there are wolves on that mountain.
Really, Father, why mention it? He could have just not told her. It's not like she lacks those two taels of silver.
Song Jinzhao was baffled when summoned. Entering the room and seeing both the eldest and second branches present, the atmosphere was solemn.
The last time it was like this was when they discussed the fate of the four children. What was going on now?
Old Man Song waved her over, patting the spot beside him. "Come sit by your grandpa."
Song Jinzhao glanced at Oldest Song and Second Song; their faces were dark.
"When the family divided, your grandma and I kept ten mu of land for ourselves. Originally, we thought after we both passed, five mu would go to the eldest branch, and the remaining five mu would be split evenly between your two branches."
"Yongnian and Yaozu need to study. Your uncles can't afford it, so they want your grandma and me to subsidize three taels of silver. If we give to them, Qiming should have it too, but we really don't have that much money."
Sitting beside him, Song Jinzhao understood perfectly. It was simply a case of the other two branches not wanting to fall behind now that Qiming was going to study, but they couldn't afford it themselves, hence this scene.
"Grandpa, I don't lack these three taels of silver. You keep it for your own retirement."
Old Man Song reached out to stop her from speaking.
"The deep mountains are dangerous. Every coin you earn is a risk to your life. When you sell fish in the city and the soldiers bully you, you never back down. Isn't it all to earn money so Qiming and the others can have a good life?"
"Your father and mother are gone. Your grandpa can't let you suffer injustice anymore. Today, with both your uncles and aunts here, I decide to give four mu of paddy fields to your branch first."
Second Song immediately pressed, "What about me?"
Old Man Song felt as if a large rock were pressing on his chest, heavy and suffocating.
"I will only subsidize the tuition for the two children for three years. After three years, the remaining six mu of land will go to the eldest branch—four mu, and the second branch—two mu. We'll write the agreement today, and tomorrow Song Jinzhao and I will go to the county office to transfer the deeds."
Second Song widened his eyes unwillingly. "Why do I get less than Elder Brother?"
Old Man Song snorted coldly. "Because when your mother and I are old and can't move, it will be your elder brother and sister-in-law who take care of and support us."
Second Aunt Song ventured timidly, "Father, Mother, do you mean that in the future, supporting you in your old age will have nothing to do with our second branch?"
Old Lady Song, her anger simmering inside, shot up and pointed at Second Aunt Song's nose, scolding furiously.
"I raised him, changing his diapers and feeding him. When he came of age, we found him a wife."
"When you gave birth, I took care of you during your confinement month. When you couldn't manage the children, I helped plenty. When the family divided, you got land and house, not missing a thing. Now that we're old, you say it has nothing to do with you? Has a dog eaten your conscience!"
"Before marrying you, Second Song was obedient and well-behaved. After he married you, he changed. It must be you secretly egging him on."
Second Aunt Song hid behind Second Song, gritting her teeth, lowering her head, and rolling her eyes.
Don't you know what your own son is really like?
What obedient and well-behaved? He's plainly selfish, cowardly, and lazy to boot.
If I weren't constantly pushing him, he'd probably want to lie in bed sleeping all day.
Old Man Song gave Second Song a cold glance. "Whether it has anything to do with you depends on your filial piety. I can't very well go begging at your second branch's door with a bowl."
Seeing Second Song being scolded, Oldest Song quickly agreed. "Let's do as Father says. I have no objection to the four mu of land."
One mu of paddy field costs five taels of silver. Three years of tuition is nine taels. When all's said and done, their eldest branch still came out ahead.
Second Aunt Song pursed her lips and nudged Second Song with her elbow.
Forget it. It's just half a mu less of land. Being able to squeeze nine taels of silver out of the two old folks is better than only the eldest branch benefiting.
Second Song forced a smile to appease Old Man Song. "How could that be? If Elder Brother doesn't feed you, I certainly will."
Old Lady Song watched the couple's little private exchange, her heart sinking with disappointment.
Second Song is completely under his wife's thumb. I'm afraid there's no hope for him in the future.
Song Jinzhao had never schemed for the elders' land. Now, unexpectedly gaining four mu of paddy fields for free was a surprise.
Schooling costs at least twelve taels of silver a year. Even after deducting the three taels subsidized by Old Man Song, she still needed to come up with nine taels herself.
Could Oldest Song and Second Song really afford it?
Song Jinzhao had her doubts.
They'd probably have to survive on nothing but husks and chaff, pinching every penny until it screamed.
